Attachment for internal combustion engines



Feb. 27, 1940. G. H, MEISER ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINESFiled July 11, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet I gyewez'ser- J M%.

Feb. 27, 1940. G. H. MEISER 2,191,958

ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 11, 1938 '2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 21, 1940 2,191,968

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A'.I."I.A(7H1\ENTv FOR INTERNAL COMBUS- TIONENGINES George H. Meiser, Chicago, 111. Application July 11, 1938,Serial No. 218,705 15 Claims. (01. 277-60) My invention relates toimprovements in atmay be developed and results in the creation oftachments for internal combustion engines and, such vacuum in thepumping cylinder, on its more particularly, an air pump adapted for usesuction stroke, as to draw gasoline vapor from in connection withamulti-cylinder internal comthe intake of the engine into the pumpingcylbustion engine; my attachment being primarily inder. Valve lag in thedrawing of air into the adapted for use in connection with motorvedevice not only reduces the pressure which may hicles for tireinflation, though as will be underbe developed, but also is apt toresult in the stood it may be put to other uses. pumping of gasolinevapors and valve lag on the Devices 0! this character require for theiruse compression stroke of the pumping cylinder remerely the removal of aspark-plug from one of duces the pressure developed. 10 the cylinders ofthe engine and the insertion of Devices of this character for universalapplithe device into the spark-plug -receiving opening. cation must beadapted for satisfactory opera- The engine is then operated with theremaining tion on engines which operate not only at low,

cylinders and the one having the device atbut relatively high, idlingspeeds. The higher tached operates in conjunction therewith to theidling speed of the engine the more neces- 15 pump air, the air to bepumped being drawn sary the avoidance of valve lag and avoidance throughthe device into the cylinder on the sucof restricted air flow to the airinlet (spark-plugtion stroke of the engine and then compressed receivingopening) of the pumping cylinder, for on the compression stroke anddriven out through pumping high pressures without the pumping of thedevice. gasoline vapors. 20

As will be understood, it is essential for the Certain of my objects areto provide a device pumping of high pressures that the means conof thecharacter described which will operate to troling the flow of air fromthe atmosphere into insure such free and instantaneous flow of air thedevice on the engine suction stroke and the into the pumping cylinder asto avoid the pumpshutting off of this air from the atmosphere on ing ogasoline vapor even at relatively high e 2 the engine compression strokebe as nearly ingine-idling speeds; to effect quick shut-oft ofstantaneously reactive to the engine suction and the device to theatmosphere upon the conclusion pressure as possible; in other words,that valveof the suction stroke; to provide for the pumplag be minimizedto as great a degree as possible ing of higher Pressures at y 1181131engine id not only because such lag reduces the efllciency speed thanhitherto possible and without drawat of the pump but because unlesspractically noning gasoline vapor into the pumping cylinder; existent onthe suction stroke, is apt to result in d to accomplish these results yDOVBL the pumping of gasoline vapor instead of pure ple and inexpensiveconstruction of device. air. By providing against valve lag on the suc-Another requirement of a device of the chartionstroke thus permittinginstantaneous flow actel' stated is that it Shall be a p for pp 35 ofair to the pumping cylinder, and providing for cation to use on enginesas at Present commonly the free flow of suflicient quantities of airthrough o s r d ma y f wh h r of su h desi n the device, suctionproduced by the pumping cylas to present obstruction to the applicationthereinder of the engine may berelieved sufficiently to to of suchdevices as hitherto provided on ac- 40 insure against the drawing ofgasoline vapor. into Cou t of t ei ecessarily large size; t being 4( thecylinder from the intake of the engine in another of my Obj to Provide adevice y which vacuum exists; which the purposes above mentioned may beac- Furthermore, in the use f the device in the complished and yet willbe of much smaller size sparkeplug-receiving opening of the pumping thansuch devices as hitherto provided, adapting cylinder the inlet for theair drawn into the it to be used on engines of such designs that 45pumping cylinder through the device is limit d former devices could notbe used. to the size ofthis opening which is relatively Referring to thec p y d aw n s: small, and it is therefore necessary, in order thatFigure 1 is a view in vertical sectional elethe pumping cylinder pumphigh pressures'withvation of one of the cylinders of a multi-cylinderout pumping gasoline vapor, that the device perinternal combustionengine showing it as 50 mit of unrestricted flow of air to the pumpingequ pp with} device y ng my invention. cylinder and that the air inletvalve of the de- Fi r 2 is n nla ed view in vertical secvice act withoutsubstantial lag in both opening tional elevation of the device ofFig. 1. and closing. Restricted flow of air into the device Figure 3 isa plan sectional view of the device,

reduces emciency by reducing the pressure which the section being takenat the line 3 on Fig. 2 55 and viewed in the direction of the arrow,this view showing thefiap valves of the device in the position theyassume upon the engine suction stroke.

Figure 4 is a view like Fig. 3 and of the structure therein shownillustrating the flap valves in the positions they assume on the enginepressure stroke.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the structure comprising the flapvalves and a valve cage of the preceding figures of the drawings showingone of the flap valves as turned back to expose a detail of the valvecage, the structure being viewed from the front thereon in Figs. 3 and4.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 5with the flap valve at the near side of the structure omitted toillustrate a detail of the valve cage, this view being taken from theright-hand side of Fig. 3.

Figure '7 is a view like Fig. 2 of another form in which the device maybe provided.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the device of Fig. 7.

Figure 9 is a plan section taken at the line 9 on Fig. 7 and viewed inthe direction of the arrow.

Figure 10 is a view in elevation of the internal structure of the deviceof Fig. 7 and composed of flap valves and a valve cage, one of the flapvalves being turned backwardly.

Figure 11 is a view in side elevation partly sectional of the structureshown in Fig. 10, the structure being viewed in this figure from theright-hand side of Fig. 10; and

Figure 12, a face view of the sheet of material from which the flapvalves of Figs. 7-11 are formed.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1-6, inclusive, the devicecomprises a cylindrical casing 3 having its lower end somewhat reducedin diameter and provided with external threads |4 adapted to be screwedinto the spark-plugreceiving opening l5 of one of the cylinders of amulti-cylinder internal combustion engine, such as the cylinder l6 ofthe engine represented at H.

The casing l3 contains diametrically opposed series I and IQ ofcircumferential slots each shown of a length slightly greater thanonequarter of the circumference of the casing, these slots forming airinlets for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The air inlets l8 and I3 are controlled by check valves in the form offlap valves 20 and 2|, these valves being preferably made of arubberlike material having the necessary qualities to meet theconditions of use in connection with an internal combustion engine, suchas is well known in the art; the material known in the art as Neoprene"being admirably suited for my purpose.

The valves 23 and 2| are held in position by a cage or retainer 22comprising arcuate portions 23 and 24 shown as having openings 25 and 26therein and spaced from the side of the casing l3, and a centralpartition-forming skeleton plate member 21 connected at its oppositeedges with the adjacent edges of the members 23 and 24 and projectingabove and below the members 23 and 24, the other edges 28 and 29 of themembers 23 and 24 being spaced from the adjacent edges of the partition21 to cause the cage to present slots 30 and 3| extending lengthwise ofthe cage throughout the greater portion of its length-in theconstruction shown throughout the full length of the cage and the lengthof the series of air inlets l8 and I3. Preferably the members formingthe cage are made of sheet flap valves 20 and 2| metal and may, ifdesired, be formed of a single sheet thereof stamped or pressed into thedesired shape.

The flap valves 20 and 2| are shown as formed of separate sheets of thedesired material each of which is slotted at its upper and lower edgesadjacent a lateral edge thereof, as represented at 32 and 33 of the flapvalve 20 in Fig. 5, into which slots lateral projections 34 and 35 onthe top and bottom, respectively, of the partition forming member 21extend as shown of the flap valve 20 for holding the flap valves againstshifting lengthwise and circumferentially of the cage. Thus each flapvalve is held at a vertical marginal portion to present a portionopposite the air inlets freely movable into and out of valve-closingposition. v

The notched portions 32 and 33 of the sheets and solid portions of thecage are disposed in registration with solid portions of the casingagainst which the sheets are clamped by the cage, the sheets in practicebeing provided of such thickness as to place them in compression uponinserting them in position on the cage into the casing.

The cage is so positioned in the casing |3 as to cause its arcuatemembers 23 and 24 to span the series of slots l8 and I9 as shown withthe interposed therebetween. In this position of the parts the lowerprojections 35 on the cage extend into diametrically-opposed verticalgrooves (one of which is represented at 36) in the upper part of thelower reduced internal diameter portion 31 of the casing I3, to preventrotation of the cage, the cage being conflned between the lower endwalls 36a of the grooves 33 and a check-valved equipped removable caphereafter described.

The parts are so proportioned as shown that when the flap valves 20 and2| are displaced from the air inlets l3 and I! as shown in Figs. 2 and3. the lower edges of the and 24 and the flap valves are spaced from thecasing l3 thus affording passages through which air drawn into thedevice through the inlets i3 and I! may pass downwardly, without obstruction, into the casing |3 below the cage and thence to the enginecylinder; air also passing from these air inlets through the slots 30and 3| into the cage and discharging through its open bottom into thecasing below the cage.

The upper end of the casing I3 is closed by a cap 38, hereinbeforereferred to, screwed into the casing I3 and having a centrally disposedair outlet 33 controlled by a ball check 43, the upper end of the capbeing provided with a nipple adapted for attachment to the end of aflexible hose shown at 42.

In the use of the device the casing I3 is screwed into aspark-plug-receiving opening as above described. When the in thecylinder to which the device is attached operates to draw air into thecasing 3 through the openings l3 and I9 andexpel it at high pressurethrough the opening 33 into t e hose 42.

The flap valves 23 and 2| being supported at marginal portions asdescribed are thusiree to move at their portions opposing the air inletsi3 and I3 and without any interference between them and any frictionalresistance, thus rendering them very sensitive in action. Furthermore,provision is afforded by the construction shown and described for thefree, substantially unobstructed flow of the air from the air inlets l3and 13 into the interior of the lower end of the casing arcuate members23 engine is operated the piston II and in such volume as topreventthevacuum produced on-the suction stroke of the piston of the pumpingcylinder from becoming sufliciently eifectiveonthegasintakeof theenginasto draw gasoline into this cylinder. In this connection it will benoted that the valves 20 and 2| extend at their free portions in thesame directim, namely, in the construction shown in clockwise direction(Fig. 4); the fixed edges of these valves contacting with the side wallof the easing ll. Thus portions of the air entering the casing I! aredirected from opposite sides of the casing it in the same by the freeportions of the valves 20 and 2|, toward the respective slots SI and 30which causes the air to freely swirl in the cage without obstruction andwithout bafliing, such as would 'result were the two streams to abut,and flow out of the lower end of the cage.

In the particular construction shown the cage 22 not only serves as asupport for the flap valves but also as a means for limiting inwardmovement of the free edge portions thereof on the suction stroke of thepumping cylinder, serving to permit the flap valves to move inwardlysufliciently far for effecting the desired air flow through the devicebut preventing flapping or fluttering of the flap valves as would occurin case no such stops were provided and which would manifestly beobjectionable.

The sensitivity of the flap valves is effective not only as a factor indeveloping a high degree of efliciency in the pumping of air, permittinghigh pressures to be developed, but also as a factor in preventing thepumping of gasoline.

The construction shown in Figs. '1 to 12, inclusive, is directed to theaccomplishment of the purposes above stated in connection with thedevice of the preceding figures of the drawings and operates on the samegeneral principle.

In this'construction the casing of the device, represented at 43 andadapted to be screwed at its lower threaded portion 44 into thespark-plug receiving opening of the pumping cylinder of an internalcombustion engine, is provided at its side wall with series of airinlets 45 and 46 extending circumferentially about the casing anddisposed in non-diametrically registering position and each of a lengthslightly less than onethird of the circumference of the casing, thesolid portions of the casing between these inlets being represented at41 and 48.

The device also comprises flap valves 49 and 50 of flexible material, asfor example in the case of the flap valves and 2 I which span theopenings 45 and 45, respectively, and are located at the outer side of acage or retainer which is located in the casing 43 and serves to holdthe flap valves 49 and 50 at vertical marginal edge portions thereof,leaving the remaining portions of the valves free to move into and outof a position for closing the air inlets 45 and 45.

The cage in this construction is shown as formed from a single sheet ofmetal bent to provide arcuate portions 52 and 53 apertured asrepresented at 54 and 55, respectively, and an outwardly deflectedconnecting portion 55, the free edges of the sheet being spaced apart toprovide a slot 51 extending throughout the greater portion of the lengthof the cage-in the particular construction shown throughout the fulllength of the cage and the air inlets 45 and 45.

The arcuate portions 52 and 53 are spaced from the side wall of thecasing 43 as shown and the spaced apart edges of the arcuate portionsdirection circumferentially I2 and II are provided at their upper andlower ends with outwardly extending projections 54 331.5! which contactthe side wall of the eas- The lower edge of the cage 5| is cut away atintervals to afford legs 44 outwardly bent at which the cage seats atits lower end on the ledge portion ii of the casing. The upper edge ofthe cage is similarly recessed to provide upwardly extending projections42 which oppose the cap of the device hereinafter described and whichserves, when applied to position, to prevent outward movement of thecage.

The cage is so positioned in the casing l3 as to cause its arcuatemembers 52 and 53 to span the series of slots 45 and 44 as shown, withthe flap valves 40 and 54 interposed therebetween. In this position ofthe parts the lower ones of the projections 59 cooperate means on thecasing shown as comprising spaced apart projections its on the interiorof the casing it which extend between the projections 54 as shown. Theprojections its also serve to hold the cage in the open condition shown,preventing the free edge portions of the cage from moving toward eachother.

The flap valves 49 and II in this construction are shown as formed of asingle sheet of the desired material with its upper and lower edgesnotched between its lateral edges, as represented at 63 and 64,respectively. The upper and lower ends of the deformed portion 58' ofthe cage are provided with outwardly bent projections 55 and 66,respectively, which extend into the notches G3 and 54 of the sheet, inthe assembled position of the parts, preventing lengthwise andcircumferential displacement of the flap valves relative to the cage.The notchedportion of the sheet and the deformed portion 55 of the cageare disposed in registration with the solid portion 41 of the casingagainst which thesheet is clamped by the cage, the sheet in practicebeing provided of such thickness as to place it in compression uponinserting it in position on the cage, into the casing, the slot 51 ofthe cage being in registration with, but in spaced relation to, thesolid portion 48 of the casing.

The cap above referred to is represented at 61 it being of the sameconstruction as the cap 38 and similarly equipped with a ball check 58as explained of the cap 38.

when the flap valves 49 and 50 are displaced from the'air inlets 45 and45 as shown in Fig. .7, the lower ends of these valves and alsothe lowerend of the cage are spaced from the casing 43 affording free,unobstructed, passages for air from the air inlets 45 and 46 to thespace 51 in the casing 43 below the cage, permitting air to flow fromthese air inlets into this portion of the casing. The slot 51 is also incommunication with the air inlets 45 and 45 affording a passage for airfrom these air inlets through the side of the cage and out through itsopen ttom into the lower portion of the casing thereby providing for thefree flow of a large volume of air into the lower part 61 of the casing43 and thence to the pumping cylinder and serving as a factor inpreventing the pumping of gasoline as explained of the construction inthe preceding figures of the drawings, the adaptability of the flapvalves for free movement and without frictional resistance, renderingthem very sensitive in action to the end of performing the. purposeexplained above in connection with the flap valves 20 and 2|.

While I have illustrated and described certain with positioningdischarge through an end embodiments of my invention I do not wish to beunderstood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variouslymodified and altered and the invention embodied in other forms ofstructure without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new Letters Patent, is: i

1. A device of the character described comprising a casing having airinlets in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing having lateralprojections at its upper and lower ends, and a flexible sheet memberbetween having slots in its upper and lower edges between its side-edgesinto which said projections extend, the portions of said sheet atopposite sides. of said slots being free to move crosswise of the deviceinto and out of a position for closing said air inlets.

2. A device of the character described comprising a casing having an airinlet in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing and spaced therefromand having a slot extending throughout the greater portion of the lengthof said cage, and a flap valve between said casing and cage forcontrolling said air inlet, said slot being beyond said flap valve,whereby a portion of the air drawn into said casing passes through saidslot into said cage for discharge through an end thereof.

3. A device of the character described comprising a casing having an airinlet in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing and spaced therefromand having substantially diametrically opposed slots extendingthroughout the greater portion of the length of said cage, and flapvalves between said casing and cage for controlling said air inlet, saidslots being beyond said flap valves, whereby a portion of the airdrawninto said casing passes through said slots into said cage for thereof. a

4. A device of the character described comprising a casing having-an airinlet in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing and spaced therefromand formed of arcuate side walls and a central partition connected atits opposite edges with adjacent edges of said side walls, respectively,the other edges of said side walls being spaced from said partition toprovide slots extending lengthwise of the device and flap valves betweensaid casing and cage for controlling said air inlets.

5. A device of the character described comprising a casing having an airinlet in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing and spacedtherefrom, said cage comprising a side-wall-forming portion having asingle slot extending lengthwise of the cage, and a flap valve betweensaid casing and cage for controlling said air inlet, said slot beingbeyond said valve, whereby a portion of the air drawn into said casingpasses through said slot into said cage for discharge through an endthereof.

6. A device of the character described comprising a casing having an airinlet in its side wall,

and desire to secure by a valve cage in said casing and spacedtherefrom,

a sheet of metal bent with its termisaid cage being formed of to formthe side wall of the cage, nal edges spaced apart to form a slotextending lengthwise of the cage, and a flap valve between said casingand cage for controlling said air inlet, said slot being beyond saidvalve, whereby a portion of the air drawn into said casing passesthrough said slot into said cage for discharge through an end thereof.

7. A device of the character described comprising a casing having an airinlet in its side wall,

said casing and cage and a valve cage in said casing open at its bottom,said case being spaced from said casing at its side wall and at itslower end, said cage h'avinga slot extending throughout the greaterportion of the length of said cage, and a flap valve between said casingand cage for controlling said air inlet, said valve being beyond saidslot, whereby a portion of the air drawn into said casing passes intothe space between said cage and casing and thence downwardly at theinterior of said cage below the latter and another portion of the airpasses through said slot into said cage and discharges through thebottom thereof.

8. A device of the character described comprising a casing having an airinlet in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing, a flap valveinterposed between said casing and cage and secured in place on saidcage at a marginal portion thereof and presenting a free portioncooperating with said air inlet, and means for positioning said cagewith a predetermined position in said casing angularly about its axis toinsure registration of said flapvalve with said air inlet in theassembling of the parts of the device.

9. A device of the character described comprising a casing having an airinlet in its side wall, a

valve cage in said casing and spaced therefrom;

said cage having a slot extending continuously from end to end thereof,whereby a portion of the air drawn into said casing passes through saidslot into said cage for discharge through an end thereof, a flap valvebetween said casing and cage for controlling said air inlet, andpositioning means for said cage engageable by portions of said cage atopposite sides of said slot and preventing collapsing of said cage.

10. A device of the character described comprising a casing having anair inlet in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing having lateralprojections at its upper and lower ends, and a flexible sheet memberbetween said casing and cage and having slots in its upper and loweredges between its side edges into which said projections extend. I Y

11.-A device of the character described comprising a casing having airinlets in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing and spaced from theside wall of said casing, flap valves interposed between said casing andcage and held in place at marginal edge portions thereof extendinggenerally in the direction of the length of the device and closelyadjacent said casing and each pre-' senting a free portion, said freeportions extending in the same rotary direction and adapted to movecrosswise of the device into and out of a said flap valve thereon inposition for closing said air inlets, said cage hav- 12. A device of thecharacter described comprising a casing having air inlets in its sidewall, a valve cage in said casing and spaced from the side wall of saidcasing, flap valves interposed between said casing and cage and securedin place at marginal edge portions thereof extending generally in thedirection of the length of the device and closely adjacent said sentinga free portion, said free portions extending in the same'rotarydirection and adapted to move crosswise of the device into and out of aposition for closing said air inlets, said cage having openings.extending generally lengthwise of the device throughout the greaterportion of the casing and each prelength or the casing and disposedadjacent to. but extending beyond the free portions of said flap valvesto which the flap valves direct air entering the casing through said airinlets.

13. A device of the character described comprising a casing'having anair inlet in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing and spacedtherefrom and having a slot extending throughout the greater portion ofthe length of said cage, and also having an opening to one side of saidslot, and a flap valve between said casing and cage for controlling saidair inlet and adapted to extend across said opening when said air inletis open, said slot being beyond said flap valve, whereby a portion ofthe air drawn into said casing passes through said slot into said cagefor discharge through an end thereof.

14. A device 01 the character described comprising a casing having airinlets in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing and spaced from theside wall of said casing, flap valves interposed between said casing andcage and secured in place at marginal edge portions thereof extendinggenerally in the direction of the length of the device and closelyadjacent said casing and each presenting a tree portion, said freeportions extending in the same rotary direction and adapted to movecrosswise of the device into and out of a position for closing said airinlets, said cage having openings adjacent to but extending beyond thetree portions of said flap valves to which the flap valves direct airentering the casing through said air inlets, said cage having otheropeningsacross which the flap valves extend and which are covered bysaid valves when said air inlet is open.

15. A device of the character described comprising a casing having airinlets in its side wall, a valve cage in said casing and spaced from theside wall of said casing, flap valves interposed between said casing andcage and held in place at marginal edge portions thereof extendinggenerally in the direction of the length of the device and closelyadjacent said casing and each presenting a free portion, said valve cagehaving generally arcuate shaped portions each extending at one edgeclosely adjacent those portions of said flap valves at which said flapvalves are held in place and each spaced beyond said edge from theadjacent flap valve, said free portions extending in the same rotarydirection and adapted to move crosswise of the device into and out of aposition for closing said air inlets, said cage having openings betweensaid edge of each of said arcuate portions and the opposite edges ofsaid arcuate portions and adjacent to, but extending beyond the treeportions of said flap valves to which the flap valves direct airentering the casing through said air inlets.

GEORGE H. MEISER'. 30

